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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
I just purchased this 1982 Z28 with 2,998 original miles. The story goes that that a woman purchased the car new in 1982 and started losing her sight fairly soon after that.
I bought it from a guy in Cleveland who bought it from the 2nd owner (who bought it from the original owner). The only thing done to it was a new base / clear coat paint job - the original paint was heavily scratched while it was sitting in a garage.
This car is almost EXACTLY like the one that I bought new in 1982 with the exception of having the 4bbl carburetor instead of the Crossfire injection that mine did.
I have been looking for one of these - red and NO T tops - for several years.
I agree. Top stripe matches paint on this one. My crusty old red paint is no longer the same red.
I think the clock came with cars that did not have digital clock in radio. So oddly, if one ordered an upscale radio with fancy digital clock, the console clock went away. But the clock was probably still available as an option.
The one mistake many people do with the strip kit is install it as close to the top of the ground effects as they can. The factory had a slight gap between the stripes and the GFX.
Thanks for the compliments on the cars guys - I am really pumped about it.
Here is some background on some of the questions posted:
1. Caps faded - they were not replaced, they are there but faded out. What you see is the original wheels and tires. The tires are badly dry rotted. I ordered a set of new reproduction wheels and I ordered a set of the reproduction Goodyear Eagle GT's to go on those wheels. Those tires are expensive, but a must for the right look. I am keeping the original tires and wheels together.
2. Clock - I can tell you from ordering one of these cars brand new that when you ordered the optional AM/FM cassette stereo radio, it had digital read out including the clock. Digital anything was a big deal in 1982. I ordered my car with this radio so my car did not have the clock in the console.
Back in 1982, I had exactly $10,500 to spend - saved up from summers working in the oilfields between school semesters. I was 18 years old. Here is how I chose to spend my $10,500:
Red exterior color
Silver Gray interior (this car I bought has Charcoal)
Crossfire Injection (I had to have the highest hp available)
Automatic Transmission (manual was not available with the CFI, but you still had to pay for the Automatic as any other option)
No T Tops - too expensive
AM/FM Cassette radio (I thought I HAD to have the optional stereo radio)
Cruise Control
AC (living in Texas that is NOT really an option)
Manual windows and locks
Manual hatch - no electric release
It was a pretty much bare bones Z28 other than the CFI engine and stereo radio. It was all I could pay cash for. I ordered it and in 8 weeks in arrived in June 1982.
I had alot of good times in that car - drove it all the way through college, graduation, and getting married. When I sold it, it was definitely all used up - I think I put 65,000 miles or so on it in 5 years. Very hard miles. Very hard.
To be honest - it was a horrible car. The engine was replaced at 25,000 miles (threw a rod) and the interior literally fell apart in your hands as you touched each **** or switch. To those of you who drive one now and attribute the rattles to being old - No - these cars rattled like crazy brand new. This was probably the low point of GM quality and the 1980's was the decade that the Japanese began to gain huge chunks of market share.
But the car looks good today - I think it would sell well today, especially with today's engines. Chevrolet did a good job in making you THINK you were going fast in these early 3rd gens - because it definitely was an illusion.
I love the style and handling of these early 3rd generation Z28's and by the end of the decade their performance began to match their looks and handling.
As to the rattles and such, this can be addressed. I have an '82 Pace Car that has 29k miles on it. It rattled pretty bad everywhere when I got it. I took a little time to tighten screws, adjust the windows and door handles properly, adjust the ttop rods, insulate the lock rods and spare tire, etc, and the car is now virtually rattle free. I do get a slight rattle from the ttops still, but that is tied to the linkage having some play in it. I'll re-address that later. My '87 is also currently rattle free.
Awesome story and current result. I'd say you were living the dream back in 83. Sure don't see any of the early third gens around here, very few of any year actually.
They rattle. Yep. Mine makes so much road noise (rear end hum, lowered suspension, after market stuff, GMMG exhaust) that the rattles are not that big of a deal. They will not have a new car thump when you close the door without either closing the door lightly or insulating the tar nation out of it. Surprisingly mine is decent for an old car. It isn’t the family cruiser for a hundred miles but it makes me smile when I drive it in short jaunts.
Yours is so well preserved that parking it would be a no no anywhere. I could not leave that alone safely. Take good care of it as she is a beauty. Congrats on the purchase you picked a winner.
Got the new reproduction wheels (Jegs) and tires (my local dealer, who sourced them from the distributor in Missouri). They look great. I took the old original wheels and original tires INTACT (tires still mounted on wheels) and put them in storage. The original tires where extremely dry rotted. I am not sure how they held air long enough to get me around town to get these new tires put on.
I also cleaned the engine compartment. The shock towers and inner fender panels were coated with some kind of wax coating. I am not sure, but maybe this was put on by the dealer as some kind of "rust proofing" for the car when originally purchased (Cleveland)? Anyway, it was NOT easy to get off.
I also got the AC fixed - new reproduction compressor. Had to replace the evaporator and all hoses too.
The engine had a lot of vacuum leaks too - lots of rotten hoses. I replaced all of those and it runs very smoothly.
Also did an oil / filter change, flushed the radiator, and checked all fluids.
I have not changed the AT filter or fluid. It actually looks good on the dip stick and the transmission shifts very well.
The third member was a little low on lubricant, topped it off with correct limited slip oil.
The brakes look good - hoses look very good. The previous owner may have replaced.
I am about ready to take her out on a little road trip. The car is up to 3,053 miles.
That upper radatior hose looks original. Has the GM stamp on it and factory part number.
Yes it definitely is original. Still has the original "wire" type clamps on both upper and lower hoses.
Interestingly I removed the lower hose to do a flush of the coolant. I was a little afraid that the hose would come apart when I tried to remove it from the radiator. It came off very easily and did not seem to be in bad shape at all. I flushed the radiator and reinstalled the hose along with the original hose clamp. The hoses look and feel fine.
I did have to replace alot of small hoses - there was alot of vacuum leaks.
I have my original upper hose on my 88 with GM markings and it's still holding strong and I have had it off several times.
I know you have a very original car but if you want a little more performance out of that car throw an open element air cleaner on it. It helps quite a bit. Always can put the original back on in a flash.
Awesome find and a beautiful car! Would love to get a nice 83/84 HO 5 speed car one day for my collection. With only 3000 miles on it I'd drive it almost every day, lol. Be a long time before the value would go down. You probably never plan on getting rid of it anyway right? Enjoy!
Awesome find and a beautiful car! Would love to get a nice 83/84 HO 5 speed car one day for my collection. With only 3000 miles on it I'd drive it almost every day, lol. Be a long time before the value would go down. You probably never plan on getting rid of it anyway right? Enjoy!
I hate to say this - but I am driving this car. I am not going to sell it anyway (my kids might) but I cannot NOT drive it! It drives like a new car and it brings back alot of good memories for me. It will be on the road!
Here is my latest addition: I found some old original KZEW and Q102 radio decals from back in the 1980's. I had these packed away in a box of my high school stuff. Anyone who grew up in the Dallas / Fort Worth area in the 1980's will know exactly what these two radio stations represented - the advent of "album rock" or "hard rock" that came into age in the late 1970's and continued through the 1980's.
I have several of these classic radio window decals. I think you got them when you went to concerts back in the day - Rush, Van Halen, AC DC, etc.
I'd love to see some pictures of some rust free suspension parts! So rare to see these cars in pristine stock condition. Great looking car.
The undercarriage does not look as "pristine" as you would think - it is covered in a coating of wax like undercoating that was applied by the original dealer. I got most of it out of the engine compartment - the shock towers and inner fender panels were covered in that stuff. The paint, however, was perfectly preserved underneath it.
Removing it did make a heck of a mess though in my driveway.
I love it! I had the same car except "Charcoal Custom Vinyl". a big step up from regular vinyl. I like you was 18. We walked that one through Norwood as well. I had the opportinuity to buy it back from the third owner and couldnt afford it at the time. Last time I saw it with its fourth owner, it was falling apart. That was the last registered owner. Think Ill look him up tom. Your Z28 is awesome. Nice find!
04-22-2017, 10:19 PM
